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It sucked ass.
At some point he managed to doze off, but his rest was short-lived. Around four in the morning, a loud beeping sound filled the room. They both jumped awake, startled from their sleep.
“What is that?” Inda asked, instantly alert and her Glock already in her hand. Damn, how had she reached it so fast? Had she slept with it under her pillow?
It took him a hot second to realize the sound was the alarm he’d set up on his laptop. Sliding out of bed, he padded over and looked down at the illuminated screen.
“Lucas?”
He glanced up and smirked. “Looks like I just caught a rat.”
Gathering the sheet around her, she quickly came over, looking over his shoulder. When he felt her brush against him,his body immediately reacted. He grabbed his shorts off the nearby chair and slid them on before he embarrassed himself further.
“It’s a message between Carlisle and Zaitsev,” he said, forcing himself to ignore her cinnamon scent and the way it found its way into his pores. “They’re not planning on stealing anything. See this list of chemicals?”
She nodded.
“I think they’re going to make a batch of Novichok there.”
“We need to tell Brax and get back to San Francisco,” she said, and he nodded.
Although he wanted to stay in Utah a little longer, try to set things right with her before they jumped back into the fray of operational chaos, at least he didn’t have to worry about any more rock climbing. It was the one silver lining to the otherwise gloomy cloud hanging over his head.
???
The flight back to San Francisco happened almost immediately. Lucas learned that Hunter was always on stand-by, ready to go at a moment’s notice. One second Inda was calling Braxton and the next they were checking out of the hotel at the crack of dawn and boarding the private jet. Her team could move at a moment’s notice and it reminded him they were a well-oiled machine, a highly competent crew who were efficient and well-trained.
It also worried him that she put herself in that kind of danger.
Inda pulled on her headphones, curled up in the chair across the aisle and closed her eyes. Lucas was willing to bet she wasn’t really sleeping, just avoiding him. If that’s the game she wanted to play, then so be it. He’d back off for now, but if she thought he was giving up, she was sorely mistaken.
Because he’d decided Inda Diaz was worth fighting for, whether she believed so or not.
After landing, they returned to the warehouse building near the docks and the team gathered together. It was still early and they guzzled coffee while planning and strategizing their next move.
The Orion Chemical Plant was located a little over thirty miles east of San Francisco near Mt. Diablo. Further research revealed they not only created and stored chemicals, but also had a testing facility. New email communication disclosed a meeting would be taking place later that afternoon with Dr. Zaitsev.
“Great,” Lucas muttered under his breath. “More mountains.”
Beside him, Inda stiffened, but she didn’t comment. She’d been keeping him at arm’s length since last night and he didn’t like it. Not one fucking bit. One thing at a time, though. First, they had a lab to infiltrate, and how that would end up going was anyone’s guess. But one thing he knew, the more distracted they were, the higher the likelihood something would go wrong.One thing at a time,he reminded himself. Mission first, Inda forever.
“Any particular reason it’s named after the devil?” Gray asked. Funny question for a man nicknamed Demon, but Lucas didn’t comment and quickly pulled up the answer on his laptopat exactly the same time Zane did. They both began speaking then abruptly stopped and glared at each other.
“Whoa, competitive much?” Ryland chuckled.
“The name came from Spanish soldiers when the indigenous people they were transporting escaped toward the mountain,” Zane said.
“It was night and the soldiers claimed the Native Americans were aided through the thicket by mysterious lights,” Lucas continued.
“By 1824, the region north of the mountain came to be known as Monte del Diablo or—”
“Devil’s Thicket,” Lucas finished. “Many indigenous Californians believe it’s sacred and the point of creation.” He couldn’t help but notice the amused look on River’s face. But when he glanced over at Inda, her expression was carefully blank.
“Thank you for that very in-depth explanation, Professors,” Ryland said with a smirk and Saint rolled his eyes.
“He asked!” Zane pointed at Gray then sent a scowl in Lucas’ direction.
“Is that the mountain we can see from here?” Gray asked.
